Idaho (English)

Where does "Idaho" come from?

The origin of the name Idaho remains a historical puzzle with no definitive root. While it may possibly derive from a Plains Apache word for the Comanche people, it was popularized in the 1860s through its use for a steamship and a county in the Pacific Northwest. Although a colorful local myth once claimed it was a Shoshone term for "gem of the mountains," this was a fabrication by a lobbyist and has no basis in the actual language.

Full etymology tree

• Idaho (English), 'A state in the western United States. Capital and largest city: Boise.'
  • borrowed ídaahȩ́ (Plains Apache)

Updated June 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris